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Epilepsy Awareness
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month!
Wear purple this month to support people living with epilepsy.
Almost 50 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with epilepsy, and there are around 150,000 new cases each year in the U.S.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which nerve cells in the brain produce abnormal activity that results in seizures.
Symptoms of Epilepsy
Symptoms of seizures can vary. Some of the common ones are:
Loss of consciousness
Muscle contractions and uncontrolled jerking movements
Staring blankly or blinking frequently
Smacking of lips, chewing motions, repeated swallowing
Fluttering of the eyes
Causes of Epilepsy
There are multiple reasons a person can develop epilepsy. Some, however, never get a definitive cause for their seizure activity. Some of the common causes include:
Genetics
Head injuries
Brain Tumors
Developmental disorders
Abnormalities of the brain
Infections in the brain
Drug/alcohol abuse or withdrawal
Treatments
There are several treatment options available to help prevent or minimize the amount of or severity of seizures:
Anticonvulsant/Antiepileptic Medications
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
Surgical removal of the portion of the brain causing seizure activity
Ketogenic Diet
Epilepsy is a serious disorder that can lead to death if a seizure cannot be stopped. Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) occurs in almost 3,000 people in the U.S. each year. Seizures affect people of all ages, including infants.
For more information about epilepsy, visit https://www.epilepsy.com/
Resources:
https://www.valleychildrens.org/neurosciences/epilepsy-awareness-month